GABRIELLE TORPEY
AN HISTORIC bell has been donated to the Lyell McEwin Hospital’s Northern Adelaide Cancer Centre for patients to ring at the completion of their treatment.
The idea came from LMH cancer patient Eboney Sheehan, who is the leading campaigner for the Flinders Foundation Cold Cap fundraiser.
When Miss Sheehan started her cancer treatment in March this year, she noticed how the hospital didn’t have a bell for patients to ring.
“I’ve seen them at other hospitals and interstate hospitals and I just thought it was something really nice to look forward to throughout such a, somewhat, traumatic experience,” she said.
“I wanted to ring a bell (at the end of my treatment), so I thought ‘they need one’.”
Miss Sheehan took to Adelaide’s ‘Pay it Forward’ Facebook group, asking if anyone had a bell laying around that could be donated.
Among the few that were offered, Kylie Parish’s was the most unique.
The bell had belonged to her father, Brian Parish, who had passed away from cancer years ago, but had all his treatments at LMH as well.
“It was only fitting that the bell be placed at the same hospital,” Miss Sheehan said.
“Kylie donated the bell, the plaque was donated by Brighton Trophy Shop, and the timber was just a piece that my boyfriend salvaged from the house next door that was being demolished.”
Along the edge of the bell is an engraving, done as an act of kindness from Mister Minit at Sefton Plaza, which acknowledges Mr Parish’s memory.
“Everyone’s just had their touch on it, which is always nice,” Miss Sheehan said.